NMSU BASKETBALL: Menzies optimistic Aggies can learn from UNM loss

New Mexico State's Matt Taylor and New Mexico's Tim Williams lock up as they battle for a rebound during the second half Sunday night at the Pan American Center.(Photo: Gary Mook/ For the Sun-News)Buy Photo

LAS CRUCES — With the young team New Mexico State has this season, Aggies coach Marvin Menzies is optimistic they can use Sunday’s loss as a learning experience going forward.

NMSU lost to New Mexico 83-74 Sunday night at the Pan American Center in the first of two Rio Grande Rivalry games. It was the Lobos’ eighth straight win in Las Cruces in the series. UNM has won 14 of out the last 16 meetings with NMSU.

The Aggies have no seniors and only two juniors on this year’s squad while returning just two starters from last season.

“I’m hoping my young guys can learn from it and move forward, obviously, with a vengeance to get better and clean up all of the mistakes we made,” Menzies said. “Especially down there late.

“I thought we had really good defense there late. We just didn’t finish plays. Which is a great lesson to show them on film. And if they clean that up, that equates to a win somewhere else down the line this season when it counts. Hopefully, we’ll be able to take that lesson going forward.”

NMSU (1-1) had a few chances to make it a one-possession game late Sunday, being down 76-71 with 3:18 to go after Pascal Siakam made one of two free throws. While Aggie sophomore Jalyn Pennie got the rebound, Pennie’s shot was not good and the Lobos went up 79-71 with 2:58 to go after Sam Logwood hit a 3-pointer on UNM’s ensuing possession.

The Aggies went 0 of 6 from the field in the final 1:11 of the game.

And although NMSU had the size advantage, the Lobos (2-0) outrebounded NMSU 37-34. New Mexico had 14 offensive rebounds for 20 second-chance points. The Aggies had 15 offensive rebounds for 21 second-chance points.

“We just didn’t box out,” said Siakam, who finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. “That’s about it. We focused (going into the game) on boxing out and rebounding. And they kicked our (tails).”

NMSU and UNM will meet against on Dec. 16 in Albuquerque. The Aggies lost to the Lobos 62-47 at The Pit last season. But, NMSU beat UNM in Albuquerque during the 2013-14 and 2011-12 seasons.

The Aggies also went 5 of 24 from 3-point range Sunday night while the Lobo guards, especially Elijah Brown, were key in UNM's victory. Brown scored a career-high 31 points, including the year he played at Butler, going 8 of 17 from the floor and 13 of 14 from the free-throw line.

“There’s a lot of technical mistakes that we made," Menzies said. "I think we have the athleticism, the length and the quickness and the personnel. I don’t want to make excuses, but they’re babies. But, the Lobos are young too. It was two young teams going to war. They (UNM) were better tonight. I’m hoping we have a better performance in Albuquerque.”

The Aggies have seven games before heading up to Albuquerque in a month to see the Lobos again. Included in that stretch is the first of two Battle of I-10 rivalry games against UTEP on Dec. 2 at the Pan American Center.

Menzies said he thought his team took a step back on Sunday and said UNM’s changing defenses caused some of that and made NMSU think on its feet a little bit more than it was accustomed to in their early games.

“I just want to see us play hard again and then let’s add a little bit more smartness to it,” Menzies said. “And then keep growing. I think (Sunday) taught the young guys the different intensity that a rivalry brings and how it can affect you if you don’t play with poise. I feel like … when we learn from those things after we get a chance to get back to the drawing board, it will benefit us down the road. We’re optimist with this young team that we will play really good basketball going forward.”

Mark Rudi can be reached at 575-541-5445 or at mrudi@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @mrudi19.